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Hussain Manawer reveals video for 'Playground' - premiere

Video is a nostalgic look at growing up that also asks the listener to consider the privilege of education and a safe childhood

Roisin O'Connor
Music Correspondent
Tuesday 24 October 2017 09:35 BST
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Poet Hussain Manawer has unveiled his video for "Playground", a poem he wrote after witnessing the refugee crisis first hand.

Manawer, who will play his first full show at Omeara in London on 21 November, shows him visiting the site where his old school used to be and reminiscing about the past.

Watch the video first via The Independent above.

Manawer says of "Playground": "I wrote the poem after witnessing the refugee crisis first hand. I saw so many children who've been stripped of a childhood because of what they've gone through - something we can't even imagine and the reality of even being their doesn't do their experiences justice.

"The trip deeply impacted me and that's where the line 'I need to fall in love with the world again' comes from. I was privileged enough to smile through my childhood, and that's something I think a lot of us take for granted. To have the 'normal' experiences of going to school, playing with our friends on the playground and receiving an education. These are things every child deserves but unfortunately, this isn't the case for many children across the world."

Of the video he adds: "I was fortunate enough to work with a great team of people who understood where I wanted to go with the creative angle. The director Alfie Barka and MoFilm really helped shape this project and marry the track to the right visuals.

"Whenever I think about 'Playground', I always think back to my childhood and I wanted the team to do the same and bring to the table their memories and nostalgic feelings. I wanted to include my own school where I grew up, so I was excited when we made this happen."

Am I Going Too Deep?, the new EP by Hussain Manawer, is out now and available for download. He performs at Omeara in London on 21 November

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